TYLER, Texas — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith confirmed that the recent kidnapping of a Tyler man appears to be related to a Mexican cartel.
Julio Cordova, 48, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Walybert Cordova-Rascon, 38, of Straburg, Colorado, were charged with aggravated kidnapping for ransom/reward for accusations of taking a Tyler man and demanding $10,000 from his family Sunday afternoon, according to court documents and records.
Smith said Thursday the investigation shows that the suspects could be either members of a cartel or working for a cartel. Detectives are continuing to uncover evidence and information as it the investigation is in its beginning stages.
According to arrest affidavits, Cordova and Cordova-Rascon pulled into the victim's driveway, put a gun to his head and forced him into their car on Sunday afternoon. His sons followed the suspects' red Honda car to donut shop, where they were told to leave and shown guns as a threat. Cordova and Cordova-Rascon also told the victim's sons they wanted $10,000 for their father's return.
Using the victim's phone, the suspects then called the man's wife asking for the same amount of money, the document read.
When the man's wife said she didn't have $10,000, they started asking for $5,000 and then whatever money she could collect. Pings from the man's cell phone showed the Honda was near the Ft. Worth/ Arlington area. Cordova and Cordova-Rascon told the man's wife to start heading toward the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and they would give her a location once she was close, according to the affidavit.
The Ft. Worth Police Department was notified that the most recent ping showed the suspects' car to be a gas station. Ft. Worth officers found the Honda and the victim was located in the backseat. Both Cordova and Cordova-Rascon, who were found in possession of two guns, were detained and later arrested, the affidavit said.
A search of the car led to officers finding narcotics, drug paraphernalia and what looked like a tracking device. The victim told police the suspects told him to get into the car or they would shoot him and his family. The man got into the car to protect his family, according to the affidavit.
The man said he didn't know the suspects or why they would take him. Both Cordova and Cordova-Rascon denied kidnapping the man, while Cordova-Rascon told police that another man told them where the victim lived and he owed someone money, the document stated.